Pope says he’s not afraid of a schism in the Catholic Church

Pope Francis says he is not afraid of a schism within the Catholic Church, even as he confronts criticism from conservative Catholics about his leadership.

“I pray that there will not be schisms,” the Pope said Tuesday, “but I am not afraid.”

The Pope’s remarks came in response to a question from a journalist at a press conference aboard the papal plane. Francis was returning to Rome from Africa, where he spent six days in Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

A schism is a formal break within the church, usually due to disputes over Catholic teaching.

“There have been many schisms in the Church,” Francis said, referring to the institution’s long history of religious disputes.

But the criticism of Francis isn’t only coming from the United States, the Pope said on Tuesday.

“They are a little bit everywhere, even in the Curia,” he said, referring to the Vatican’s bureaucracy.

“At least those who criticize have the honesty to say it. I like that. I don’t like it when the criticisms are under the table and they smile and show their teeth and then there is a knife in the back. This is not loyal, this is not human.”

Francis also defended himself against accusations by some conservative Catholics that he is too liberal, saying that he is in line with other Popes like John Paul II.

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